The Things I Notice Now

Living through cancer and living with lupus have changed my perspective in ways I’m still discovering. 

There was a time when I could reel at the slightest hiccup. I had an idea of what beauty, joy, and happiness were supposed to look like—and most of the time, I waited for the big moments to find them. 

Birthdays. Celebrations. Vacations. Milestones. 

You get the idea. 

I didn’t always make time to notice the ordinary days in between. 

But after moving through so many different seasons of life—healing, change, joy, growth, and new beginnings—I’ve realized that one of the biggest things that has changed is what I notice and when I notice it. 

Life feels more precious now. Not because everything is easy. It isn’t. There are still hard things, uncertainty, frustrations, and days that don’t go as planned. 

But somehow, I’m happier. 

I think it’s because I’ve gotten better at noticing what is good while it’s happening. 

The other day, my son said something that made my husband laugh until he cried. I found myself just watching the two of them, taking it in. It wasn’t a birthday or a holiday. Nothing had been planned. It was simply a funny moment on an ordinary day. 

And it was wonderful. 

Outside, a few new blooms appeared on flowers that hadn’t bloomed in almost a month. I noticed them immediately. 

I made homemade cinnamon raisin bread, and on one of the first cool mornings of fall, the smell filled the kitchen. The first warm slice tasted even better. 

And then there’s that first sip of coffee in the few quiet minutes before the day really begins. 

These are the things I notice now. 

Cooler mornings. The first apples of the season. A conversation with one of my children. Light coming through the trees. Something new growing in the garden. Bread rising on the counter. A quiet cup of coffee. 

None of these moments are extraordinary. 

And maybe that’s the point. 

Maybe savoring life isn’t always about creating more beautiful moments. Maybe it’s about getting better at noticing the ones that are already there. 

I used to think happiness needed an occasion. Now I’m learning that so much of it is quietly woven into an ordinary Tuesday morning, a conversation in the kitchen, something blooming outside, or laughter coming from another room. 

Living through difficult seasons has taught me that I don’t want to wait for the big moments to feel grateful for my life. 

I want to notice it now. 

Maybe you can, too. 

Look around today—not for something extraordinary, but for something that makes you pause for just a second. 

Something beautiful. Something funny. Something comforting. Something you might have once walked right past. 

Because life is precious. And even when there is still a lot going on, there can also be so much beauty and joy right alongside it. 

Sometimes we just have to notice. 

What is one ordinary moment in your life today that’s worth savoring? 

Happy Savoring!

Angeline